Magnifica Air launches private class experience at NBAA-BACE
With a vision to transform business aviation, Magnifica Air was launched at the National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas.
The airline will begin operations in 2027 with a fleet of Airbus A220-300 and A321neo aircraft, completed in partnership with Comlux and delivered through Air Lease Corp.
Wade Black, a veteran in aviation, real estate, and luxury travel, will lead the airline as the chief executive alongside another seasoned aviation professional Sean McGeough who will be the airline’s chief development officer.
Talking to Corporate Jet Investor at the NBAA-BACE, McGeough elaborated the core concept behind Magnifica Air: “There’s a big white space between flying first and flying private, and we’re right in the middle. We’re going to redefine the category – we call it private class. It’ll be all the benefits of flying private: amazing cabins, concierge service, everything from black cars to great meals on board. It’ll be a privilege to fly again as opposed to a nuisance.”
“Magnifica Air is pioneering a new space between private aviation and first-class commercial travel,” added Wade Black, CEO. “We combine the privacy and intimacy of a private jet with the cultural relevance and operational scope of a world-class airline. This is more than transportation—it’s a movement, redefining how discerning guests experience the skies.”
Black said the airline will be carbon-neutral at launch in 2027, with over 7m gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) integrated annually into East Coast operations.
The airline is further exploring hybrid-electric aircraft for the future. “We don’t think of wellness or sustainability as add-ons,” added Black. “They are built into every layer of the Magnifica Air experience.”
On timing and market conditions, McGeough emphasised: “This is the time to start this airline. Businesses do well when they’re properly capitalised and when the opportunity presents itself right.”
Based in Florida, the airline will operate with 6–7 daily departures, connecting to Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Bay Area, Dallas, and Houston, with seasonal routes to Napa Valley and the Caribbean.
The founder, Wade Black is an industry veteran with experience in both commercial and private aviation. Wade will be supported by McGeough, who brings with him over 30 years of aviation experience, having held prominent leadership roles such as CEO of Nextant, president of Hawker Beechcraft EMEA and working for the likes of Airbus Corporate Jets and Wheels Up.
Other key team members include Brad Lamber, who has been roped in as the airline’s chief operating officer with over 30 years in the airline industry in addition to Doreen DePastino, serving the new airline’s vice president of Inflight Services and Ground Operations. DePastino has over 35 years’ experience in inflight services in major commercial airlines such as Emirates.
